Digital Video Camera with USB connection

If anyone can help me please let me know. I own a Sony Digital Video Camera that's 3 years old. It connects to my iMAC through a USB port. I can not figure out how to load my videos to iMovie. Is this camera too old? When I connect the USB port nothing happens; nothing appears on my desktop.

George,
i'm not sure if you can download Image Capture from the Apple Website separately or if it comes as a total download of a specific version of OSX. If you have the original system discs that came with your computer, maybe that would have it, or worst case, an option to "Restore Software." Since you camera records to a DVD, you have another option: Do a Google search for MPEG Streamclip and download it (free). Basically, MPEG Streamclip will convert the files on the DVD back to DV files for editing in iMovie. I don't have any first-hand experience with a DVD camera, so you might also need to download Apple's MPEG-2 Playback Component ($20 from Apple's site) if the video on your DVDs is in MPEG-2 format. Come to think of it, I downloaded some MPEG movies from my digital still camera (it takes simple movies) using Image Capture and I still needed to use both MPEG Streamclip and the Apple Component to get it into iMovie, so maybe skip Image Capture and go for these two programs. I know it should be easier to do than this, but unfortunately getting video back off of a DVD is not what Apple wanted you to do. They setup their movie edit programs to accept DV files. The movies on a DVD are already highly compressed, so you actually need to reverse the process and get these compressed movies back to DV. Most PC computers allow, and even suggest, that you import MPEG movies for editing, but that is toally backwards. That explains why the PC discussion boards are filled with toally frustrated and confused people. Most PC computers still don't come with Firewire. They just don't get it.

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View image instantly on monitor from camera with USB connection

Hello,
What I want is to see my image instantly on monitor when I am taking a picture from example a portrait or a painting in the studio. The camera is connected with USB to the computer.
Help!!

So I was shooting teathered the other day with the following:
Nikon D100
USB to Powerbook G4, 1.25 Ghz 2GB Ram OS 10.4.8
Nikon Capture to Hot Folder
Hot Folder to Aperture
My issue was that sometimes for reasons I could not work out my
Camera would lock-up after a couple of frames shot. I was also syncing
to a couple of dynalites but I dont think it was a light re-cycle thing.
This became embarrasing as my subject was standing there and my shutter
would be locked up.
Was this an issue with maxing out the processor on the Pbook?
Or perhaps writing the file to aperture?
Would it be better to have the image display in Nikon Capture and worry bout importing into Aperture later?
After finally de-teathering and shooting normaly I never ran into the problem again.
Any thoughts appreciated.
TIA.
G5 Dual Core, AL 15" Pbook, G4 Quicksilvr, G3 Wallsteet, PM 9600, Mac SE Mac OS X (10.4.8) iPods: Nano, 4th-Gen & 1st-Gen 5Gb Original Goodness!

Digital video camera compatible list

hi, i cant seem to find the list here for compatible digital video cameras with mac.
i really like the JVC hard drives, but have read here there is a loss of quality, and they are hard to work with IDVD?????
thank you

general rule:
any firewire connected, miniDV
camcorder has access to the simplicity & convenience
of the iApps...
This is not absolutely correct. I have personally suffered a great embarassment when I tried to showcase iMovie HD on my PowerBook G4 17" to a colleague who had a couple years old Samsung MiniDV camera with him that day. iMovie wouldn't even recognised it. And he uses it with Adobe Premiere on a PC with no problems. We then tried some JVC camera lying around and it worked perfectly. Being PC user he took it for granted but I was really shocked.
I have immediately Googled for that camera model and, apparently, it is incompatible with iMovie at all. I can't remember the model now but if you search the net for it you'll find out.
Since that time I am more cautious about making bold statements.

I am looking to buy the least expensive high resolution digital video camera to convert/record 8mm video tapes.

Hi. Thanks for your help in advance.
I am looking to buy the least expensive digital video camera with the highest resolution I can find in order to use it to record 100s of old (1960s era ) reel to reel video tapes. I am told that in order to do that I must record the "old" video onto a new platform, which means I will set up an "old" projector and play the tapes and record the video on a digital camera. I only want to do this once so I want the highest resolution format I can find. Therefore, I am looking for a camera to purchase. Any help is appreciated.

Hello Lance,
Transferring film to digital video is a complex, challenging process. To cut to the chase, the best way to do this is to engage a firm that specializes in film-to-digital transfer services. There are quite a few around. Costs for 8mm transfer range anywhere from about $0.15 - $0.40 per foot and there are usually significant discounts for bulk projects. Plus, depending on the cost of the video camera you would otherwise consider buying, you may find it costs less overall to use a service than do it yourself.
You also mentioned that you "want the highest resolution format" ... Once you project 8mm/Super8 film onto a screen the effective resolution will not even be what we might consider "standard-def" in digital video. And the larger the projected image the lower & lower the effective resolution regardless of what kind of video camera you might use.
A transfer service, however, directly scans each frame to digitize them and depending on the math the resulting digital image may technically be as "good" as 720p ... but the overall image quality will still be limited by the quality of the original film ... and still probably not up the level of "standard-def" digital video ... but way better than anything you could obtain with a homebrew projector-screen-videocam setup.
Why DIY? Well, it sounds inexpensive and simple. But in reality it is a very time consuming way to get relatively low quality transfers no matter how high-end or expensive a video camera you use. I can share more details if necessary, but DIY film-to-video transfer is not the way to go if you are really interested in quality results.

How can I connect my Powerbook or iPad Retina via HDMI cable to 4K digital video camera to be a "control monitor"

How can I connect my Powerbook or iPad Retina via HDMI cable to 4K digital video camera to be a "control monitor"

That won't work with the iPad, unless maybe there's a "control monitor" app somewhere.

Using Video CAMERA with Connect pro

We reciently purchased this product and were told that it
would work with video cameras. We have a Panasonic that we are
using with vista. this camera works with Premiere Pro, and there is
nothing wrong with it. I know that Connect is not software based it
is an Internet Application. How ever i know that the OS (vista)
"sees" the camera because it works with other programs. Sorry i am
connecting with IEEE not USB
Has anyone out there in the world has success with getting a
video camera using IEEE connection to work fully. Audio and Video
coming through the camera?
Is anyon aware of drivers for either the camera or the IEEE?
And if the Connect product does not support this... WTF?
thanks

Connect does work with IEEE1394 Firewire Cams, just not with
all Firewire Cams. (USB cams also are not all working).
I would suggest to first try out the cam from different
machines with different OSs (Vista might well be the sole issue
here), also try if you can get an ordinary USB cam to work.
If all fails, you can workaround that using a virtual camera
driver, piping the firewire cam into the virtual cam and in Connect
you can load the virtual cam with the image of the Firewire cam.
Not a nice way round, but it would work.
If you google for "Adobe Connect camera compatibility matrix"
you get a "slightly" outdated list of supported cameras.

IMac does not recognize digital video camera plugged into USB port

Hi Everyone,
I received a Kodak Zi8 digital video camera as a gift recently. I was told it was compatible with macs. When I plug the camera into the USB port of the mac it doesn't recognize that it is there. I read on one discussion board to turn the camera on and off if necessary. I have done so and it still doesn't recognize it. Does anyone have a solution they could recommend? Thanks in advance.

With the Zi8, you have to manually import the video into iMovie.
Launch iMovie. Go to File - Import Movies. Find your camera volume (it may be called KODAK or NONAME), navigate into the folder structure, find the DCIM folder and import the .mov files you find there.
Matt

Re: Satellite L - How to connect my digital video cam?

I have a Canon digital video camera (bought in 2004). I have been using it to transfer movies onto my other Toshiba laptop, but there is no place to plug in on my new laptop. I did use a iEEE1394 but it doesn't work on this one.
What alternative is there?
Also on turning on the laptop I get a message saying TOSHIBA SERVICE STATION NOT WORKING and proceeds to solve it but nothing happens.
Any suggestions pls.

Hey,
What notebook model you have it exactly? Some notebooks dont have firewire port but if your camera has USB port can use this port. As far as I know all notebooks have USB port
> Also on turning on the laptop I get a message saying TOSHIBA SERVICE STATION NOT WORKING and proceeds to solve it but nothing happens.
You should try to reinstall Service Station, I think this should work. Just download the newest version of Toshiba service station on official Toshiba website and install it:
http://eu.computers.toshiba-europe.com > Support & Downloads > Download Drivers
But dont forget to remove the old version first before you install the newest one. ;)

My Mac Mini will charge - but not sync with - USB-connected devices (ipod, camera, memory card reader). How do I fix it?

My Mac Mini will charge - but not sync with - USB-connected devices (ipod, camera, memory card reader). I have tried unplugging the devices, restarting the computer, selectively unplugging and plugging in the devices, closing and opening the relevant applications (iTunes, iPhoto, etc). I have tried using different USB cables.
It's like all of a sudden the synching service stopped functioning or recognizing these devices for some reason. The other ports work just fine (monitor).
The only USB-connected external device that appears to be unaffected is the USB SuperDrive and it works on all the USB ports into which I plug it.
How do I fix this?

Open Console in Applications>Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages when this happens or doesn't happen.

HT4101 my lightening connection from my ipad mini to camera with usb deleted the pics from my camera and did not put them on the ipad

lightning connection from my ipa mi to camera with usb delted the pics fom my camera and they are not ony ipad

Where did the movies come from?
For what you said you should be easily be able to do what you want except for:
"remove them from the ipad but still have access to them for viewing on the road or at hotel"
Home sharing only works wehn the devices are connected to the same network
Understanding Home Sharing
If they are iTunes purchases, you should be able to redownload most iTunes purchases on the road if you have an internet connection by:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

SONY Digital Video Camera DCR-DVD 201 and iMovie

I have a sony Digital Video Camera
Posted: Aug 6, 2006 6:59 PM in response to: max Farina
Reply Email
Can I use this Digital camera with my MacBook Pro
it is a SONY DCR-DVD 201
I do not see a firewire port on the camera ONLY a USB.
How can I get my video from my DVD to iMovie?
I want to put my home video from this camera to iMovie, Can it be done?
I am going nuts, I paid alot of money for this camera and now I can't use it in my new Mac?
I am very new to Mac and this hurts!
PLEASE someone help me, I only see a USB, DO they sell some thing to help get the Video into iMOVIE?
Thanks......

Search this forum for "compatible, DVD camcorder" and you will find many threads where people lament this truth:
iMovie is for miniDV formatted video connected via Firewire.
Mini DVD camcorders are designed for you to do very light editing on the camera before you finalize the DVD and don't support being imported into a computer. Anyway, many of the experts here know of converters and workarounds, if you want to spend some more money. You could start with these threads:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2404104&#2404104
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2288697&#2288697
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2243781&#2243781
Somewhere I have read a pretty detailed thread describing what converter you need and how to do it. So just keep searching...

Older Digital Video Camera - no firewire port

I have an older Sony Digital Video Camera and a MacBook Pro with iDVD"08 and I want to transfer my tapes to DVD using OneStep DVD. The camera has a USB port, but no firewire port. Is there an adapter I can get or some other way to use OneStep DVD?
I also have a Mac Mini with iDVD6.

I have the same problem and I have a new Sony HDR-SR7 HDV Camera.
In the past iMovie and iDvd (for example iLife '06 and earlier) worked mainly via firewire when it came to importing or capturing video. It is still the preferred protocol on most macs. And it is what I continue to use on all 4 macs in my home.
However, in order to compete with most PC's as well as changing market conditions; USB 2 was only recently incorporated into the macintosh platform with the introduction of iMovie 7 (I'm guessing it was done to appease camcorder manufacturers that only supplied internal Hard Drives and USB2 ports and dropped FW connectivity altogether as a cost cutting measure and not necessarily because USB is a better than firewire (which it most certainly is not). Keep in mind iMovie 7 now allows for capturing video via USB2 when connected directly to the camera but it won't allow you to create custom chapter markers (unless one uses Garage Band to perform this much needed function). Nor will USB2 allow you to export your finished i-Movie back to the camcorder (at least not on most macs). Apparently this particular feature was also dropped when writing this newer iMovie software.
Nevertheless, iMovie 7 will allow you to share / export the finished iMovie (and automated / interval chapter markers) to iDvd'08. But for those of us who still prefer to use Firewire over USB2 as well as maintaining custom chapters, apple does offer iMovie 6 as a free download (provided one has already purchased iLife'08).
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imovieHD6.html
If your camcorder has no FW ports, your best remaining option (short of buying apple's pro apps / exchanging for a camera that has firewire) is to use the existing USB2 interface to connect your camcorder directly to your mac and apple's latest software / iMovie 7.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305919
Hope this helps but if not just come on back.
Message was edited by: SDMacuser

SONY HDR UX3E - dvd camcorder with usb connection

does anyone know how to get video out of those new DVD video cameras ?
First, do those new, mini 8cm dvds go into a PowerBook G4 SuperDrive slot?
This camera has a usb cord, so i'm plugging that into PowerBook G4 usb port. The volume shows up on my desktop, but clicking on it just brings up various files that I can't see thumbnails of or open with imovie, dvd, or quicktime.
my previous camcorder used a firewire connectionl. Does anyone have experience with the new SONY HDR UX3E camera and a mac? it is High defintion.
is there a way to hook camera up with Firewire? my manual doesn't mention it. does anyone have this camera, and use it with a powerBookG4??
ay help would be appreciated

WARNING!!!! Never pop in any thing other than a standard size CD/DVD in your slot-loading Macs!
You will damage your optical drive severely. You can only put those things in a tray-loading optical drive.
Second, the only connection supported by Macs are FireWire connections for digital video cameras. (Unless something has changed recently, which I don't believe since I am a video editor--not professional--myself in my job).
The best cameras for Macs are the DV cameras. If you want HD, you can record to mini-DV. The hard drive cameras work too, but it takes multiple steps before you can start editing your video.
I'm not sure how to extract the video from your DVDs since they are encoded, but I will look for you. (Unless someone answers before I do).
Check your camera to see if it does have a FireWire connection. Some cameras have both, though Sony tends to use USB 2.0. Theirs would be called "iLink" for the FireWire port.
Message was edited by: Pismo 900
**your DVDs have your videos encoded in MPEG-2 format so you need an application that will convert that into .DV or .MOV formats so that you can edit in iMovie or Final Cut. (Or QuickTime). There are many third-party apps for Mac OS X that can do that for you.

FCE: Possible to Capture SD footage from digital video cam?

Ok, probably a daft question this. Don't laugh...
I'm thinking of purchasing a digital video camera that uses SD cards. I currently use a MiniDV cam and connect via Firewire.
Is it possible to capture footage shot on SD cards into FCE?
And, if so, should I use USB from the camera, or insert the SD card into my card-reader?
The camera I'm looking at is able to record HD footage to a 2gb SD card (about 40 mins worth)
Thanks for your time!

Cheers Tom, I think you just saved me a small fortune..
Here's the camera: http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/camcorders/0,39029967,49263047,00.htm
(is it ok to link outside of the forums?)
In case the link get removed by a moderator, the model is the Sanyo VPC-HD1

How do I use a Panasonic HDD Video Camera with an iBook?

We just bought a Panasonic SDR-H40P without even thinking that there would be any problem using it with a Mac. We recorded some videos, then proceeded to try and download them to the computer only to find that they are written in .mod, which the computer will not recognize. The software that comes with the camera is for PCs only. So, after doing some research, I downloaded the trial version of DropDV. and got the files off the camera via the provided USB. It did convert some of the files (supposedly into an iMovie format). Some of the videos we took work fine. Some are missing. Some seem to be in slow motion.
Is there a different program to use or another way to get these .mod (and .moi) files to work/open on our Mac? We have some videos of a baby that his grandparents would love to be able to see!

From what I've found through reading the topic in several digital movie
forums, you should be able to use iMovie and have it import the file
from the camera for use and editing in the Mac.
This path may be version dependent for best results; and I am not
sure which versions of iLife's iMovie would be best for use with the
digital camera and also may be compatible with the older Mac iBook.
Some Panasonic digital video cameras are also seen by iPhoto and
in some cases, that can find the movie file and import it for iMovie.
And there are other Panasonic video devices which create the same
kinds of files, and there is a free or shareware software out there to
help use them. This may include players by third parties and others
which may be able to edit digital movie files.
In some digital movie forums, there is an awareness of Panasonic
products not necessarily being the best supported for Mac OS X;
while many pro users of Panasonic products have Macs, among
them are newer Intel Mac users with Parallels, BootCamp, etc
and they can run XP or Vista-ready software. If this is (still) true,
then Panasonic may be missing out; since modern products
should have support in their retail box for both major platforms.
Some Panasonic products have shipped with Mac software for
several years now; along with Windows software. Some didn't.
Hopefully iMovie can see the Panasonic digital movie files; if the
iBook can support the feature set of iMovie. Some aspects of
this part of iLife require the ability to record to DVD media and
also may require more system assets & resources than you have.
Good luck & happy computing!

Digital Video Camera with USB connection

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